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Is there an economic development problem that you just can’t seem to make any progress on? Grab your phone and call the EDO Breakthrough podcast! After all, no challenge is unsolvable with a creative solutions team by your side.
In each episode, Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and host Sandy Dubay welcomes a new business leader, community luminary, and other modern mages to discuss the challenges, joys, and needs of communities across the United States. Sandy and her guest will combine their powers to answer your real-life economic development questions.
When our powers combine, we can make an EDO breakthrough!
30 Episodes
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Some may see heritage preservation as a challenge, but in Bath, UK, it’s an opportunity. With fewer than 90,000 residents drawing 6 million visitors a year, the results speak for themselves. In this episode, Alison Herbert, CEO of the Bath Business Improvement District (BID), shares how one of the UK’s most historic cities manages the balance between charm and commerce while delivering tangible economic development outcomes for local businesses. From Bridgerton fans and Jane Austen fest...
It’s one thing to land a big project… It’s another to build a legacy. In this episode, Certified Economic Developer Tray Hairston, partner at Butler Snow LLP, shares how he’s built a career at the intersection of law, finance, and community-building. From structuring billion-dollar bond deals to mentoring the next generation of talent, Tray explains how understanding both the legal and human aspects of economic development can unlock more effective and inclusive projects. Key Take...
Once written off, now in demand… Detroit’s comeback offers a blueprint for any community that’s ready to rewrite its story—with strategy, collaboration, and a clear sense of identity. In this episode, Maureen Donohue Krauss, President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership, shares how the organization was built from the ground up, with long-term funding and strategic goals in place from day one. She walks us through the evolution of the Detroit Region overcoming major disruptors and how ...
What if you could land new foreign direct investment projects *and* keep existing employers happy… without a million-dollar budget? In this episode, Chris Knight, Managing Director of FT Locations, pulls back the curtain on relationship-first strategies that help communities of any size compete on the global stage. Key Takeaways: How to embed businesses in your community to boost retention and long-term growthTips for standing out among the 15,000 EDOs that are chasing the same 15,000 project...
What happens when you shift from serving one community to supporting dozens? In this episode, Heather Gramm, CEcD, reflects on her transition from the public to the private sector. She shares the learning curves, the surprises, and how she’s applying both the art and the science of economic development in fresh, meaningful ways. Key Takeaways: How Heather’s sons helped her see workforce development through a new lensThe biggest surprises Heather encountered after leaving the public sectorHow ...
It’s not just about workforce and utilities… Companies want to know your community is ready for them, too. Drawing from her site selection experience in the U.S. and Europe, Nicholette Ross shares why it’s critical to align with local stakeholders earlier than most economic developers expect, especially when public input and cultural fit can make or break a project. She also explains how being honest about a site’s limitations can make your community more competitive. Key Takeaways: Wha...
What does it take to lead through a crisis, earn trust in new communities, and stay passionate after 25 years in economic development? In this episode, Kelly Robertson-Slagle discusses the importance of letting people operate in their “zone of awesomeness,” why having a passion project matters at every stage, and the key lessons she’s carrying with her to her new role in Georgetown County, South Carolina, after a 25-year tenure in Maryland. Key Takeaways: Why mentorship isn’t just for beginne...
Is your team drowning in spreadsheets and struggling to sort through all the data? Discover how implementing the right CRM strategy can turn scattered information into actionable insights without overwhelming your staff. In this episode, Lisa DeNoia and Brittany Browning from Port and Starboard share expert insights on implementing Salesforce and other CRM solutions specifically for economic development organizations. Learn how to track business retention efforts, manage prospect pipelines, a...
As economic uncertainty grows, how is the leading organization in economic development positioning its members for success? In this episode, Nathan Ohle, President and CEO of IEDC, is sharing how they're tackling today's most pressing challenges while simultaneously preparing members for tomorrow's opportunities. Key Takeaways: How the economic development field is evolving from community competition to regional collaboration, and what this means for your EDOWays IEDC is breaking down b...
What happens when economic development spans 44,000 square miles of rural frontier? In our season two finale, Jolene Schalper, CEcD, joins us to share how Great Falls, Montana, serves as the hub for a vast region and why the upcoming IEDC Rural Retreat is breaking the conference mold by taking participants directly into the communities they're learning about. Key Takeaways: How to build a stronger ecosystem despite geographic challengesWhat to expect from the innovative Rural Retreat f...
Surrounded by jurisdictions 50 times its size, the City of Fairfax has mastered the art of punching above its weight. In this episode, Chris Bruno shares how this 25,000-resident community competes with neighboring giants and transforms limitations into strategic advantages. Key Takeaways: How you can create strategic alliances that allow your smaller jurisdiction to participate on a larger stage The frameworks for developing business support initiatives that can lower vacancy rates and ...
Public Relations isn’t always about chasing the spotlight and making headlines. In economic development, effective PR is about turning your narrative into a compelling message that resonates with the community you serve. In this episode, Mia Vaccaro draws on her background in lifestyle PR to help you create a strategy that goes beyond traditional media coverage and truly connects with your audience. Key Takeaways: How PR can be a bridge for your organization to the external worldWhy you shoul...
The most impactful downtown revitalization strategy might just be the least expensive one… In this episode, Leeann Crews shares how the Downtown Frederick Partnership is implementing “incremental changes,” measuring community health, and turning overlooked spaces into beloved community assets. Key Takeaways: How to measure the health of your downtown and find innovative solutions to problemsWhy targeted grant programs like facade and mission interior grants create lasting economic impact with...
What if your next big business attraction project started with a mock site visit? In Missouri, that’s not just a theory—it’s a strategy that is delivering real results. In this episode, Subash Alias shares how Missouri Partnership is helping communities prepare for economic growth with its innovative site selection training program. Key Takeaways: Why site selection is about vision, not just locationHow mock site visits have turned into real economic winsThe importance of adapting and learnin...
Is your community’s economic potential limited because everyone works in silos? Today we’re joined by Sarah Mattson, Director of Entrepreneurship with the City of Chattanooga, who shares how simple and effective it is to create a Business Resource Collective in which entrepreneur support organizations work together instead of duplicating efforts. Plus, she reveals an unexpected partnership with… a credit union?! Their local credit union has developed a loan program that has helped hundr...
Do you feel like you’re shouting into the void every time you post on social media? Today we’re sharing how you can transform your EDO’s approach from broadcasting information to creating meaningful two-way conversations that drive engagement *and* results. Key Takeaways: Understand your audience while working within your capacity constraintsStrategies for effectively repurposing content across platforms (beyond copy/paste)How you can generate credibility in your communityWhen building partne...
Is your EDO’s strategic plan a short-term to-do list? Or just a vague vision that leaves employees with more questions? In this episode, Alex Dadok and I discuss why having the courage to question assumptions – and take real action – is the key to community transformation. Key Takeaways: Why most EDOs use strategic plans wrong (and how to turn them into actual tools for progress)How to create space for thinking ahead while balancing day-to-day operationsThe reasons your organization might be ...
You can take inspiration from other communities and things you learn at conferences, but you simply can’t copy/paste what others are doing…it just won’t work. And that’s where Main Street America comes in, to help historic downtowns re-energize! Joi Cuartero Austin and I discuss Main Street America’s hyper-local support, strategic doing vs. strategic planning, and leaning into your strengths. Key Takeaways: Incremental changes can lead to big wins over time.ALL parts of a community need to “c...
Jonathan Aberman is an internationally recognized thought leader in technology and innovation. In this episode, we discuss Washington D.C.’s focus on the service economy (vs. Silicon Valley’s focus on product) and the delicate balance of utilizing AI while maintaining real connections with humans. He also shares what he’s learned from teaching in Italy and offers advice for other educators. Key Takeaways: Economic Development can’t be an individual’s game.Technology is critical, but we ...
For the season finale of EDO Breakthrough, we’ve invited Dane Carlson to be this week’s guest! Dane is the Host of the Econ Dev Show podcast and CEO of Sitehunt. We discuss all things podcasting, how to deal with change in the workplace, and the impetus behind creating Sitehunt, an AI platform that helps economic developers. Key Takeaways: What it’s *really* like to be the host of a podcastHow Sitehunt can expedite the RFI processSimilarities between AI and internsAbout the Guest: Dane ...
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